Travel Policies Regarding Campus                                    UPPS No. 05.06.02

Representative Organizations                                             Issue No. 4

                                                                                                Effective Date: 9/30/2004

                                                                                                Review: April 1 E4Y

                                                                                                Attachment I

 

 

01.       POLICY STATEMENTS

 

01.01    The purpose of this UPPS is to provide guidelines for major campus organizations’ travel to events or activities at which they represent the University. This UPPS does not apply to internally generated trips or events approved and funded in the budget process.

 

01.02  This policy applies to campus representative organizations regardless of the source of funds used to pay travel costs.

 

02.       DEFINITION OF MAJOR CAMPUS PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS

 

02.01  For the purpose of this UPPS a campus representative organization is defined as a student groups that travels as representatives of Texas State to perform for entertainment or educational purposes. This includes the following:

 

a.      University Band and Stage Bands

 

b.      Choral Groups and Vocal Ensembles

 

c.      Strutters and Cheerleaders

 

d.      Dance Groups

 

e.      Theatre Productions

 

03.       CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTING INVITATIONS INVOLVING TRAVEL TO PERFORM AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNIVERSITY

 

03.01  A campus representative organization must meet the following criteria in order for it to receive consideration for approval to travel under this policy:

 

a.      The activity must enhance the image of the University.

 

b.      Travel costs must be economically feasible for most members of the group.

 

c.      The University will give priority for travel to events that are held during non-class time or which involve a minimum amount of time away from academic endeavors.

 

d.      The University will give priority for travel to events that are held within its recruiting area.

 

e.      Travel outside the continental United States, Mexico or Canada must meet all of the above criteria except Section 03.01 d. It must also provide a distinctive learning opportunity for students and a significant publicity opportunity for the University.

 

04.       OPERATING PROCEDURES

 

04.01  When a trip is proposed for a representative organization, the sponsor of the group must route through his or her approved reporting channels the travel proposal as shown on Attachment I. 

 

04.02  The campus representative organization must route its travel proposal for approval at least one month in advance of the trip’s departure date. The appropriate vice president may approve travel proposals with less lead time.

 

04.03  The appropriate vice president must approve all out-of-state travel. Upon approval or disapproval, the vice president’s office will inform the sponsor of the group with supporting rationale or instructions.

 

04.04    Out-of-country travel requires a liability release in accordance with paragraph 6. (12) 3, Chapter III of the Board of Regents' Rules and Regulations for students and sponsors and any other individuals traveling with the group. The President must approve all foreign travel by state employees on state business. Sponsors must allow adequate time for the President’s approval for their travel.  Refer to the Texas State Travel policy or log on to the Travel Office’s website.

 

04.05  Texas State’s Budgeted Accounts – If an organization's travel to an event is funded through that group's operating budget, the account manager will follow normal University accounting procedures (Refer to Texas State Travel Website) in order to handle payment of expenses. Each individual account should reflect travel expenses shared by multiple Texas State accounts. Multiple accounts may be charged against a single travel voucher. Donated or personal funds should not be commingled with funds in a University account.

 

04.06  Donated Funds – A portion or all of the travel costs may be paid from donated funds. Such gifts must be deposited to a Texas State account, in accordance with university policy. These generally will be accounted for in the restricted fund group. If a new account is needed, the sponsor of the organization should contact the General Accounting Office and process an account request in accordance with standard university procedures.

 

04.07  If the campus representative organization will use personal funds from its members for travel expenses, it must deposit these funds in a club account.

 

04.08  The Texas State travel policy, as posted on the Travel Office’s website, establishes policies for persons not traveling in an official capacity.

 

05.             PURCHASING PROCEDURES

 

05.01  Campus representative organizations must follow state purchasing procedures for trips funded in hole or in part from university funds or donated funds. This includes bidding requirements as established by the State. Trips funded in total from group members’ personal funds are exempt from state purchasing requirements.

 

06.       REVIEWERS OF THIS UPPS

 

06.01  Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:

 

Position                                                                      Date

 

Dr. Richard Cheatham, Dean                                  April 1 E4Y

Fine Arts & Communication

 

TBN                                                                            April 1 E4Y

Associate Athletic Director

 

Ms. Pam Gulley, Interim                                            April 1 E4Y

Director of Accounting

                                                                                                           

07.       CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

 

This UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

 

Dr. Richard Cheatham, Dean, Fine Arts and Communication; senior reviewer of this UPPS

 

Dr. Perry Moore, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

 

Dr. Denise Trauth, President